Laser light shows and damaged CMOS sensors.

[seltechpc]

I have just seen this report on a Canon 5D2 that had it's CMOS sensor damaged during a street light show in Madrid.

http://blog.planet5d.com/2010/07/lasers-can-damage-your-canon-hdslr-cameras-cmos-sensor/

I thought it may be helpful to anyone here who takes photos at these events. I had never given it a thought.

Paul

 

[Fred Dawson]

The sensor I would be more worried about would my my eyesight. Cameras can be repaired eyes cannot
HSE Guidance. "Most lasers that are used in entertainment, theatre and public exhibition work emit beams that are bright enough to cause a significant eye injury risk"

 

[seltechpc]

I believe the person taking the video was using Live View so he would be effectively buffered from the laser.

I certainly would not like to be looking through the viewfinder when the laser hit.

 

[Kaouthia]

Don't all HDSLRs require you to use liveview to record video?

I've seen a bunch of videos of CMOS sensors being killed by lasers recently.

 

[Arkady]

Only in video mode, so those of us who don't like video needn't worry...

Similar thing happened to a guy who was video-ing his new canon speedlight - flashed the camera and burnt-out the sensor.

Remember these are sensors that are optimised for stills and that have been adapted to shoot video, not the other way round.

 

[Rob 80386]

I've photographed many laser light shows and used my own laser equipment to do laser photography.

The key to it is, don't point the camera directly at the beam, when doing laser photography, set the laser source up first, then set the camera gear after. last but not least, don't look through the viewfinder, it's easy to get flash blinded that way

 

[Fred Dawson]

The last post refers to flash blinding and exposure to laser radiation demonstrating the potenial for injury. The refernce to "easy" indicates the risk is not insignifcant.